Spill proof funnel

ABSTRACT

The present invention is directed toward various embodiments of a funnel device and methods of using the same. Funnel devices of the present invention employ the use of an actuator gauge which is positioned within the conical and stem portion of the funnel and extends into the fill space of a collection container. The actuator gauge is designed to allow a user pouring materials into the funnel to fill the container to a desired volume. The funnel devices described herein reduce the chance of spilling the materials or overfilling the container.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 60/563,998 filed Apr. 21, 2004, the contents of whichare incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to funnels, specifically tofunnel designs which prevent spilling and overflowing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Laboratories and other facilities use funnels to handle and transfermaterials and to fill containers. A funnel is generally a conical devicehaving a small hole or narrow tube or stem at the apex which is used tochannel the flow of a substance, as into a small-mouthed container. Afunnel has a relatively wide open upper end into which a user may pourmaterials and a relatively narrow lower end or stem. The stem generallyfunctions to direct the flow of the materials into the container and ispositioned into the neck or mouth of a container.

Variations to the traditional designs of funnels include for example,the design described in U.S. Pat. No. 606,927, herein incorporated byreference. This design includes the use of a plunger which fits into thestem of the funnel, such that the container into which the funnel isinserted is protected from insects, dust and air when it is not in use.

Another variation to the traditional design of funnels may be seen inU.S. Pat. No. 5,515,892, herein incorporated by reference. Thisecological funnel is designed for use in dumping volatile solvents intoan underlying carboy, wherein the solvent is blocked from evaporatingfrom the carboy into the atmosphere. The funnel has an extended stem, anobturating ball in the throat of the funnel to block evaporation throughthe stem of the funnel, and a lid on the funnel body to blockevaporation.

In one use of a funnel, a user pours a substance into the funnel to filla container to a certain volume. One problem encountered in pouring asubstance into a container that is not fully transparent is that a usermay not be able to see the increasing volume of the substance in thecontainer. The user may also be careless and pour too much substanceinto a container through a funnel. It is easy to overfill a container orspill liquids despite the use of a funnel.

There is a need to provide an improved funnel for the handling andtransferring of materials. There is a need to provide funnel devicesthat prevent spills and overfilling when using a funnel to transfermaterials.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed toward various embodiments of a funneland methods of using the same.

One embodiment of the invention is a funnel device comprising a conicaltapered body portion, a stem having an upper end attached to andextending downwardly from the body portion and an open bottom portion,an actuator gauge positioned within the body and stem of the device,which extends beyond the bottom portion of the stem and a throat valvepositioned over the upper portion of the stem which positions theactuator gauge.

Another embodiment of the invention is a funnel device comprising aconical tapered body portion, a stem having an upper end attached to andextending downwardly from the body portion and an open bottom portion,an actuator gauge positioned within the body and stem of the devicecomprising a head, and a throat valve positioned over the upper portionof the stem, wherein the actuator gauge is positioned between an openingin the throat valve and the head is positioned above the throat valve.

Another embodiment of the invention is a funnel device comprising aconical tapered body portion, a stem having an upper end attached to andextending downwardly from the body portion and an open bottom portion,an actuator gauge positioned within the body and stem of the device, athroat valve positioned over the upper portion of the stem whichpositions the actuator gauge, and an occluding ball attached to theactuator gauge extending beyond the bottom portion of the stem.

Another embodiment of the invention is a method of pouring a substanceinto a collection container comprising a neck portion using a funnel andactuator gauge system comprising placing the funnel and actuator gaugesystem into the neck portion of the container, pouring the substanceinto the funnel, and filling the container to a desired volume. Methodsof the present invention may employ any of the various funnel devicesdescribed herein. Methods of the present invention prevent spilling andoverflowing of poured materials. Methods of the present invention mayalso reduce backflow of the materials to be poured.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various aspects and applications of the present invention will becomeapparent to the skilled artisan upon consideration of the briefdescription of the figures and the detailed description of theinvention, which follows:

FIG. 1 is a traditional drawing of a prior art funnel.

FIG. 2 is a drawing of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a drawing of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a drawing of one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Before the present compositions and methods are described, it isunderstood that this invention is not limited to the particular devices,components, compositions, or methods described, as these may vary. It isalso to be understood that the terminology used herein is for thepurpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intendedto limit the scope of the present invention which will be limited onlyby the appended claims.

It must be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, thesingular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural reference unless thecontext clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to the“container” is a reference to one or more containers and equivalentsthereof known to those skilled in the art, and so forth. Unless definedotherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the samemeanings as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to thosedescribed herein can be used in the practice or testing of the presentinvention, the preferred methods, devices, and materials are nowdescribed. All publications mentioned herein are incorporated herein byreference. Nothing herein is to be construed as an admission that theinvention is not entitled to antedate such disclosure by virtue of priorinvention.

Systems and methods are described herein which would allow a user of afunnel to pour materials through a funnel into a container with adiminished chance of said materials overflowing or spilling. One suchsystem includes an actuator gauge positioned within the body and stem ofthe funnel to indicate to the user pouring materials into the containerthe amount of volume remaining in the container. This actuator gaugeextends beyond the length of the stem of the funnel and may contact thesurface of the substance poured into the container. As the volume of thesubstance increases within the container, the actuator gauge is pushedupward toward the user by the rising level of materials collectedtherein. There is thus a direct relationship between the volumecollected in the container and the height the gauge reaches in the upperbody portion of the funnel. In this manner the user is notified that thevolume of the container is reaching a pre-determinable volume or height,so that the user may stop pouring the substance into the container. Sucha system reduces spilling and overflowing.

This invention provides several changes to the existing funneltechnology currently available. A funnel is defined as a conical,tapered device that has a relatively wide open upper end and arelatively narrow lower end. A traditional prior art funnel 10 isillustrated in FIG. 1, which shows the design including a body portion12 and a stem 14 inserted into a neck 16 of a container 18.

The proposed device has several design variations of which several aredepicted in FIGS. 2-4.

FIG. 2 depicts a funnel device 20 in one embodiment of the invention.The funnel device 20 has the advantage of allowing the user to monitor afill volume in a collection container while also preventing backflow ofmaterials out of the container. The funnel device 20 includes a conicaltapered body portion 22, a stem 24 having an upper end 26 attached toand extending downwardly from the body portion 22 and an outlet or openbottom portion 28, an actuator gauge 30 positioned within the bodyportion 22 and stem 24 of the device 20, a throat valve 32 positionedover the upper end 26 of the stem 24 which positions the actuator gauge30, and an occluding ball component 34 attached to the actuator gauge 30extending beyond the open bottom portion 28 of the stem 24 into a fillspace of the container 38.

The actuator gauge 30 includes a head 36 and an end portion 40, and maymove vertically depending upon the volume of materials introduced intothe container 38. The actuator gauge 30 may be graduated to indicate toa user the amount of unused volume left in the container 38.Alternatively, actuator gauge 30 may be configured to indicate thevolume of materials contained in the container 38.

The throat valve 32 is positioned over the opening or upper end 26 ofthe stem 24 of the funnel device 20. The throat valve 30 may be widerthan the diameter of the stem 24 of the funnel device 20 to fit thethroat of the stem to occlude the opening of the upper end 26 of stem 24of the funnel device 20. Additionally, in several embodiments of theinvention, the throat valve 32 has a density less than that of materialsthat will be used in the funnel device 20. This density of the throatvalve 32 allows materials poured into the funnel 20 device to flowthrough the funnel and into the container 38. As the materials are addedto the funnel device 20, the throat valve 32 will rise and permit flowthrough the stem 24 and into container 38. The throat valve 32 may havea narrow opening through which the actuator gauge 30 is positioned sothat the actuator gauge 30 may move freely up and down.

FIG. 2 also depicts the occluding ball component 34 attached to the endportion 40 of the actuator gauge 30 which extends into the fill space ofthe container 38. The occluding ball 34 is attached to the actuatorgauge 30 and has a diameter which is greater than the open bottomportion 28 of the stem 24 which extends into the container 38. Theoccluding ball 34 may have a density that is less than the density ofthe material being added to the funnel device 20 and container. If theoccluding ball 34 has a density that is less than that of the pouredmaterials, than the occluding ball 34 and thus the actuator gauge 30will be gravitationally forced upward as the material is added to thecontainer 38 and the surface level in the container rises. When thecontainer 38 is filled to a pre-determinable level, the occluding ball34 will be trapped against the open bottom portion 28 of the stem 24creating a seal 50, as shown in FIG. 3, and thus preventing materialfrom entering or leaving the system. Thus the funnel device 20 andcontainer system forms a self regulating system that prevents overfillof the collection container 38.

In a preferred embodiment the funnel device 20 includes the followingcomponents. The head of the actuator gauge 30 is greater in diameterthan the hole in the throat valve 32. The opening in the throat valve 32is greater in diameter than the body of the actuator gauge 30 but issmaller in diameter than the head 36 of the actuator gauge 30. Theoccluding ball 34 is greater in diameter than the open bottom portion 28of the stem 24 of the funnel. The actuator gauge 30 is attachedappropriately to the occluding ball 34 which is shaped appropriately inorder to create the seal 50 in the funnel device 20 once the volume hasreached its pre-determinable level. The actuator gauge 30 is longer thanthe length of the body portion 22 of the funnel devices, which allowsthe occluding ball 34 to form a tight seal with the open bottom portion28 of the stem 24. The actuator gauge 30 and occluding ball 34 togetherare less dense than the materials to be poured into the collectioncontainer 38 through funnel device 20. The density requirement allowsthe actuator gauge 30 to rise in the device and allows the materials tounrestrictedly flow through the funnel into the container 38.

FIG. 3 illustrates a funnel device according to an embodiment of theinvention. In FIG. 3, a state of the system is depicted, wherein thecontainer is filled to its pre-determinable value and the user issignaled to stop pouring materials into the funnel device.

FIG. 3 shows that the seal 50 around the outlet or open bottom portion28 of stem 24 by virtue of the occluding ball 34 may be maintained inthe funnel device 20. This seal 50 prevents backflow of material intothe funnel. Additionally, the head 36 of the actuator gauge 30 may beabove the level or top surface of the funnel indicating the container isfull.

Another important embodiment of the invention may be seen in FIG. 3. Ifa user overpours materials slightly into the funnel there may be avolume of material left in the funnel that cannot enter the containervia conventional flow because the seal 50 has been created between theoccluding ball 34 and the open bottom portion 28 of stem 24. If thetotal volume of the funnel is less than the volume of the dead spaceleft in the container the system can be “flushed”. The materials left inthe funnel after the seal is created may be deposited into the containerif the volume funnel device is less than the empty space remaining inthe container. A user may simply press down on the head 36 of theactuator gauge 30 to allow the residual volume of materials in to bereleased into the container 38. Pre-determined funnel and containervolumes allow for these embodiments.

FIG. 4 illustrates another funnel device 20 embodiment of the invention.This funnel device allows for monitoring the fill volume of thecontainer 38. This funnel device also prevents the overfilling andspilling of materials to be transferred to the collection container 38.The funnel device 20 includes conical tapered body portion 22, stem 24having upper end 26 attached to and extending downwardly from the bodyportion 22 and outlet or open bottom portion 28 of stem 24, actuatorgauge 30 positioned within the body portion 22 and stem 24 of the device20 having a head 36 and end portion 40, and throat valve 32 positionedover the stem 22. The actuator gauge 30 is positioned between an openingin the throat valve 32 and the head 36 is positioned above the throatvalve 32.

As seen in the other embodiments of the funnel device, the actuatorgauge may move vertically depending upon the volume introduced into thecontainer. The actuator gauge may be graduated to indicate to a user theamount of volume remaining in the collection container. As seen in theother embodiments of the funnel device, the throat valve functions toposition the actuator gauge in the body portion and stem of the funneldevice and to allow the materials to flow through the funnel into thecontainer.

In a preferred embodiment, as displayed in FIG. 4, the funnel device 20includes a number of components. The end portion 40 of the actuatorgauge 30 that extends into the container 38 is an open cylindrical shapeso that pressure will force the actuator gauge 30 upwards as materialscollect in the container 38. The head 36 of the actuator gauge 30 isgreater in diameter than the opening in the throat valve 32. Theactuator gauge 30 is longer than the length of the funnel body portion22 and stem 24. The actuator gauge 30 is less dense than the materialintroduced into the container 38, allowing for the actuator gauge 30 torise appropriately in the funnel device 20 as materials flow through thefunnel.

The materials of the various funnel devices thus described hereinincluding an actuator gauge may be any suitable material such as glassor polymeric materials. The densities of the throat valve and actuatorgauge are pre-determinable knowing the density of materials to be pouredinto the container via the funnel device. The density of the throatvalve, actuator gauge and its components should therefore be less thanthe density of the materials poured through the funnel, so that flowthrough the funnel is not restricted by the presence of the actuatorgauge. Additionally, the buoyancy of the surface of the materials in thecontainer will act to push the actuator device upwards and towards theuser, as the volume of the substance in the container increases.Suitable materials to be poured include any fluid which may be pouredthrough a traditional prior art funnel, including liquids, semi-fluidmaterials, and the like.

In any suitable funnel device, there will be a direct relationshipbetween the volume collected in the container and the height the gaugereaches in the upper body portion of the funnel. In one embodiment,attached to the actuator gauge is an object such as a ball that willrise in the container as the volume of material increases in thecollection container. As the volume in the container increases theoccluding ball will rise in the container. At a pre-determinable pointthe volume in the container will reach such a point that the ball willblock the stem outlet. At this point, the gauge will indicate to theuser that the container is full so she will be notified to stop pouringthe substance into the container. Optionally, the amount of “dead space”or unfilled volume left in the container when the ball reaches thebottom of the funnel stem may be greater than the total space availablein the body of the funnel. If the user over fills the funnel portion ofthe system, she may push the gauge back into said container flushing anyresidual material back into the container. In this system, overfillingand spilling are prevented.

In several embodiments of the invention, the buoyancy forces of thecollected materials in the container that push the actuator upward areless than those forces that maintain the funnel device over the neck ofthe container. In other words, the force of the actuator moving upwardsshould not force the entire funnel device off of the neck of thecontainer. The funnel device should therefore be designed with materialsof an appropriate properties so that the funnel will remain resting onthe neck of the container.

Optionally, in several funnel device embodiments, an O ring may be usedto prevent as much vapor release as possible. O rings are devices whichare generally employed in ecological funnels and are known in the art.Other components that have been described in an ecological funnel oranother funnel variation may also be employed in the several funneldevices of the invention. These optional components may include aplunger, a lid on the funnel, an obturating ball in the throat of thefunnel, and an extended stem.

The several embodiments of the funnel device may be utilized in methodsof transferring materials. Another embodiment of the invention is amethod of pouring a substance into a container comprising a neck portionusing a funnel and actuator gauge system comprising placing the funneland actuator gauge system into the neck portion of the container,pouring the substance into the funnel, and filling the container to adesired volume. Methods of the present invention may employ any of thevarious funnel devices described herein. Methods of the presentinvention reduce spills of materials to be transferred to the collectioncontainer. Methods of the present invention may also reduce backflow ofthe materials to be poured.

Although the present invention has been described in considerable detailwith reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, other versionsare possible. Therefore the spirit and scope of the appended claimsshould not be limited to the description and the preferred versionscontain within this specification.

1. A funnel device comprising: a conical tapered body portion; a stemhaving an upper end attached to and extending downwardly from the bodyportion and an open bottom portion; an actuator gauge positioned withinthe body portion and the stem of the device which extends beyond thebottom portion of the stem; and a throat valve positioned over the upperend of the stem which positions the actuator gauge.
 2. The funnel deviceof claim 1, wherein the actuator gauge has a bottom portion of an opencylindrical tube shape.
 3. The funnel device of claim 1, wherein theactuator gauge is graduated.
 4. The funnel device of claim 1, whereinthe throat valve has a diameter that is greater than the stem.
 5. Thefunnel device of claim 1, wherein the actuator gauge has a head which ispositioned above the throat value.
 6. The funnel device of claim 1;wherein the actuator gauge has a density less than a predetermined valuesuch that the actuator gauge will be able to move upwards in the bodyportion and the stem of the device once a liquid is poured into the bodyportion of the device, the liquid having a density greater than saidpredetermined value.
 7. The funnel device of claim 1, wherein the throatvalve has a density that is less than a predetermined valve such thatthe throat valve floats on a liquid having a density greater than thepredetermined valve.
 8. A funnel device comprising: a conical taperedbody portion; a stem having an open bottom portion and an upper endattached to and extending downwardly from the body portion; an actuatorgauge positioned within the body portion and the stem of the devicewhich extends beyond the bottom portion of the stem, wherein theactuator gauge comprises; a head; and a throat valve positioned over theupper end of the stem, wherein the actuator gauge is positioned betweenan opening in the throat valve and the head is positioned above thethroat valve.
 9. The funnel device of claim 8, wherein the actuatorgauge has a bottom portion of an open cylindrical tube shape.
 10. Thefunnel device of claim 8, wherein the actuator gauge has a bottomportion of an occluding ball.
 11. The funnel device of claim 8, whereinthe actuator gauge is graduated.
 12. The funnel device of claim 8,wherein the throat valve has a diameter that is greater than the stem.13. The funnel device of claim 8, wherein the actuator gauge has adensity less than a predetermined value such that the actuator gaugewill be able to move upwards in the body portion and the stem of thedevice once a liquid is poured into the body portion of the device, theliquid having a density greater than the predetermined value.
 14. Thefunnel device of claim 8, wherein the throat valve has a density that isless than a predetermined valve such that the throat valve floats on aliquid having a density greater than the predetermined valve.
 15. Afunnel device comprising: a conical tapered body portion; a stem havingan upper end attached to and extending downwardly from the body portionand an open bottom portion; an actuator gauge positioned within the bodyand stem of the device; a throat valve positioned over the upper end ofthe stem which positions the actuator gauge; and an occluding ballattached to the actuator gauge extending beyond the bottom portion ofthe stem.
 16. The funnel device of claim 15, wherein the occluding ballis shaped to form a seal with the open bottom portion of the stem. 17.The funnel device of claim 15, wherein the occluding ball has a diameterthat is greater than the stem.
 18. The funnel device of claim 15,wherein the occluding ball has a density that is less than apredetermined value such that the occluding ball floats on a liquidhaving a density greater than the predetermined value.
 19. The funneldevice of claim 15, wherein the actuator gauge is graduated.
 20. Thefunnel device of claim 15, wherein the actuator gauge has a density lessthan a predetermined value such that the actuator gauge will be able tomove upwards in the body portion and stem of the device once a liquid ispoured into the body portion of the device, the liquid having a densitygreater than said predetermined value.
 21. The funnel device of claim15, wherein the throat valve has a density that is less than apredetermined valve such that the throat valve floats on a liquid havinga density greater than the predetermined valve.
 22. A method of pouringa substance into a collection container comprising a neck portion usinga funnel and actuator gauge system comprising the steps of: placing thefunnel and actuator gauge system into the neck portion of the containersuch that an actuator gauge extends beyond the stem into the container;pouring the substance into the funnel; and filling the container to adesired volume.
 23. The method of claim 22, wherein the funnel andactuator gauge system comprises a funnel body, a funnel stem, anactuator gauge positioned within the body and stem of the funnel, and athroat valve positioned over the stem.
 24. The method of claim 22,wherein the funnel and actuator gauge system further comprise anoccluding ball attached to the actuator gauge extending into the volumeof the container.
 25. The method of claim 22, wherein the actuator gaugehas a bottom portion of an open cylindrical tube shape.
 26. The methodof claim 22, wherein the funnel and actuator gauge system furthercomprise a head attached to the actuator gauge to position the actuatorgauge within the throat valve.